Electric-railway system.



N0- 759,243. PATENTBD MAY 10, 1904. G. L. ORAGG.

ELEGTRIG RAILWAY SYSTEM. Arrmonxon FILED my 22, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Witnesses lhventnr;

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UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. CRAGG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BION J. ARNOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,243, dated May 10, 1904:.

Application filed May 22,1902. Serial No. 108,54 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. ORAGG, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

5 have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric-Railway Systems,(Case No. 11,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric-railway systoms, and has for its object the provision of means whereby single-phase alternating current may be employed in effecting travel of electric-railway vehicles and whereby singlephase alternating-current sup ply-circuits may be extended along the line of travel to effect the operation of vehicles.

As is well known, the most effective form of motor for the purpose of transferring power and adapted for operation by single-phase alternating current is amotor which in itself is not capable of eflectively operating a vehicle at varying rates of speed which are required in actual practice when such motors have unchangeable-speed connection with the running-gear, being a motor such as a synchronous motor or a lag-motor having practically uniform rate of speed when most effective.

3 In other words, the motor which is best adapted for the translation of power furnished by single-phase supply-circuits is a single-phase motor as distinguished from a split-phase motor. Polyphase motors would furnish the necessary power. obviously; but such motors would need to be supplied by polyphase distribution-circuits.

In practicing my invention I interpose a variable gear or speed connection between the 4 motor and the running-gear and provide in combination with such variable gear a motor means whereby the motor may be started, making thus a most effective combination which will adapt single-phase motors for use as traction-motors.

In my present invention I provide supplemental current-supplying means at the stations, for example, where the vehicle is scheduled to stop, so that when the vehicle has reached such station a supplemental energiz- 5 ing-circuit may be closed for operating suitable means for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, whereby the single-phase motor may be brought to rest at any station desired. The agency that I prefer to employ for bringing the single-phase motor to speed comprises a subsidiary circuit to which currents that are out of phase with respect to the main energizing-circuits of the motor may be passed. To this end I prefer to equip the vehicle with supplemental trolley contacts or shoes and to place at the station or stations trolley conductors or rails having connection with the trolley-circuit or otherwise receiving current therefrom, the trolley-shoes car- 5 ried by the vehicle constituting terminals of the subsidiary out-of-phase circuit, so that when the vehicle is brought to such station the subsidiary circuit is closed through the traction-motor of the vehicle, whereby the traction-motor may upon proper control of the apparatus be caused to operate as a splitphase motor to bring the traction-motor'to the requisite speed. WVhen the motor is provided with means that enable it to operate as a split-phase motor, I relieve it of opera tive connection with the vehicle running-gear,

as when acting as a split-phase motor it would be incapable of starting if it had this load placed upon it. After the motor has been brought to the requisite speed it may then be coupled with the vehicle running-gear, preferably by means of some suitable clutching mechanism. Any suitable form of variable gear may be interposed between the single- 8 5 phase motor and the runningvgear of the vehicle.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- 0 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the operating mechanism upon a vehicle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a more general view diagrammatically indicating a vehicle and elements of my invention in place thereupon. Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference in both views.

I have illustrated a source of single-phase alternating current a, connected with a supply-circuit, whose mains b 6 are illustrated in the form of trolley-wires extending along the line of travel. The car or other vehicle 0 is provided with trolleys d d or other suitable means of connection with the supply-circuit or equivalent means for receiving current in any manner from the supply-circuit. These trolleys or equivalent devices are connected in circuit with a single-phase motor a, provided upon the car, the motor in this particular instance being a lag motor, though I do not wish to be limited to a motor of this kind. The single-phase motor operates some suitable form of variable-speed gear, that illustrated comprising a pair of cones f and g, gearing it intervening between the cone f and the shaft of the motor 6, while gearing 2' intervenes between the cone g and the runninggear k of the vehicle. The pinion upon the shaft or cone g is loose thereon and has secured thereto one member of a clutch Z, the other member being splined upon the said shaft, so that when the members of the clutch are out of engagement the cone 9 may rotate without operating the gearing 2'; but when the clutch members are in engagement a rotation of the cone 9 will cause an operation of the gearing'z'. WVhen the members of the clutch are locked together, the speed of the gearing i, and consequently the running-gear of the vehicle, may vary with respect to the speed of the motor eand cone f by an adjustment of the belt m toward or from the apex of a cone, which adjustment may be efiected by a belt -shifter a. If the single phase motor is to be started, the members of the clutch Z are separated, so as to relieve the motor of load, whereupon it may operate as a split-phase motor, the said motor being provided with a subsidiary circuit 0, desirably containing a phase modifier 1, this subsidiary energizing-circuit being adapted, by means of a switch 9, to receive current supplied by the single-phase supply-circuitb 6. The subsidiary circuit includes trolley contacts (illustrated in the form of shoes 1 r) carried by the vehicle and rails s .9, located only where the vehicle-motor is to be brought to speed, the rails s 8 being connected with the sides of the main trolley-circuit b b. The main Working circuit of the motor and the subsidiary circuit when simultaneously closed causea rotating field in the motor, temporarily transforming the same into a split-phase motor, which being relieved of the load of the vehicle is adapted to be brought to speed, whereafter the subsidiary circuit is opened, the members of the clutch locked, and the vehicle started.

I have not deemed it essential to illustrate the details of construction of the motor, as such construction will be apparent to any electrical engineer, nor do I wish to be limited to the mechanical features illustrated, as it is obvious that many changes may be made in current single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-speed gear constituting driving connection between the motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, means for separat ingthis gear connection, and means located partly upon the Vehicle and partly ofi' of the same for bringing the single-phase motor to requisite speed, substantially as described.

2. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcurrent single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, and means partly upon and partly off the vehicle for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, substantially as described.

8. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcurrent single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, and a startingcircuit for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly off the vehicle, substantially as described.

4. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcurrent single-phase motor carried by the ve hicle, a variable-gear connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a starting-circuit for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly off the vehicle, and means for separating the gear connection between the singlephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, substantially as described.

5. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcurrent single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, and a starting-circuit for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly off the vehicle, the starting-circuit ineluding trolley mechanism carried by the vehicle and trolley-conducting means having a stationary location for association with trolley mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In an eleetric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcurrent single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-gear connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, means for separating the gear connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, and a starting-circuit for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly off the vehicle, the starting-circuit including trolley mechanism carried by the vehicle and trolley-conducting means having a stationary location for association with trolley mechanism, substantially as described.

7. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcurrent single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a starting-circuit for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, the said startingcircuit being partly located upon and partly oil the vehicle, the starting-circuit including a supplemental winding for the singlephase motor, and means for supplying the startingcireuit with alternating current out of phase with the main operating-current of the singlephase motor to enable the same to be started as a split-phase motor, substantially as described.

8. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-current single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-gear connection between the singlephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a starting-circuit for bringing the single-phase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly off the vehicle, means for separating the gear connection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, the starting-circuit including a supplemental winding for the single-phase motor, and means for supplying the starting-circuit with alternating current out of phase with the main operating current of the single-phase motor to enable the same to be started as a split-phase motor, substantially as described.

9. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-currentsingle-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between the sin gle-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a starting-circuit for bringing the sin gle-phase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly ofi the vehicle, the starting-circuit including a supplemental winding for the single phase motor, and means for supplying the startingcircuit with alternating current out of phase with the main operating-current of the singlephase motor to enable the same to be started as a split-phase motor, the said starting-circuit also including trolley mechanism carried by the vehicle and trolley-conducting means stationarily located, the said trolley-conducting means being associated with the trolley-circuit to be charged with current therefrom, substantially as described.

10. In an electrie-rz ilway system, the combination with a source of single-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-current single-phase motor carried by the vehicle, a variable-gear connection between the singlephase motor and the running-gear of the ve hicle, a starting-circuit for bringing the sin glephase motor to speed, the said starting-circuit being partly located upon and partly off the vehicle, means for separating the gear eonnection between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, the starting-circuit including a supplemental winding for the single-phase motor, and means for supplying the starting-circuit with alternating current out of phase with the main operating-current of the single-phase motor to enable the same to be started as a split-phase motor, the said starting-circuit also including trolley mechanism carried by the vehicle and trolley-conducting means stationarily located, the said trolleyconducting means being associated with the trolley circuit to be charged with current therefrom, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of May, A. I). 1902.

GEORGE L. CRAGG.

WVitnesses:

FLORENCE WVIQKLIN, JOHN S'rAnn. 

